FCSB owner Gigi Becali namedropped Scottish Premiership giants Rangers while discussing the future of Romania international Darius Olaru, speaking to DigiSport, but insists that he won’t consider a sale this month.
The long-serving president is desperate to retain one of his most influential players between now and September’s transfer deadline. And he could be in luck, with at least one of Olaru’s suitors no longer in hot pursuit of reinforcements in the attacking midfield department.
Rangers reportedly sent scouts to watch the stylish Olaru at the end of last season. Since then, however, Tom Lawrence and the delightful Malik Tillman have arrived at Ibrox; Both already making key contributions for a side now just 90 minutes away from Champions League qualification.
This has not stopped speculation linking Olaru with the Glasgow giants, however. That is despite Becali’s very public stance on the 24-year-old’s future.
Rangers linked with FCSB and Romania ace Darius Olaru
“Who wants to give (me) this money? Rangers? I am not discussing Olaru. An offer may also come today from Real Madrid, from Barcelona, offering me anything. Olaru is not for sale now,” says Becali, leaving no one in any doubt about whether one of Romania’s most talented footballers is on the market.
“For now, no one is leaving, no one is coming.”
Becali indicated a couple of weeks ago that he had accepted a £5 million bid for a talented playmaker likened by some to Manchester City superstar Kevin de Bruyne; An offer that had reportedly arrived from the Middle East.
He has changed his stance rather dramatically since then, however. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that FCSB – or Steaua Bucharest, as you may know them – are stuck in the bottom half of the Romanian league table. It’s just one win in five games thus far.
In addition to Lawrence and Bayern Munich loanee Tillman, Rangers have signed Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo, John Souttar and Antonio Colak during a busy summer of changes.
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